The First Band of IMAF

In 2002, Ray Mills, a resident
artist at the Harrison Center for the Arts,
wanted to do something - anything - special for local independent musicians and
artists. Mills decided to create IMAF - the Independent
Music and Art Festival - as means of recognizing his peers. "He
wanted them to feel especially honored and cared for on this day," remembers
Pam Allee, Arts Director at the Harrison Center.
"Part of that included feeding them a home-cooked meal at a home across the
street from the event." Community embrace of the event wasn't exactly immediate:
Allee estimates 100 people attended the first
festival, "if we count the dogs."

It's grown since then
and according to Joanna Taft, Executive Director, Harrison Center for the Arts,
IMAF attracted an estimated 7,000 people in 2012. (They no longer count the
dogs that stop by.) IMAF
2013 is setting up to be better than ever with works from local artists for
sale in multiple booths sprinkled around the Harrison, the INDIEana
Handicraft Exchange, food from Duos and Judge's Barbeque, and Sun King beer.
But the highlight, for us, is the line-up.

In a cheery summer
spirit, we are counting down the days and presenting to you The 12 Bands of IMAF.

For the first band of IMAF, the IMAF Advisory Committee brings to you
the Lord
of the Yum-Yum. Part emcee and part comedian, this Lord (a.k.a. Paul Velat) is all about "maximum happy feelings", and about
re-living one's childhood through song and dance, all powered through his grind/scat vocal versions of
familiar classical pieces, remixed beat-boxing and an electronic loop. An IMAF
veteran, he'll get the party started and entertain in between band sets
throughout the day.